English Language

English Grammar and Usage

2,711 Questions

English grammar and usage questions test fundamental sentence structure, correct verb forms, and accurate syntax. Topics include identifying grammatical errors, filling blanks with appropriate verbs, and changing narration. These are essential for the English language sections of competitive exams.

Verb FormsSentence CorrectionTense IdentificationNarration ChangeRelative PronounsSyntactic Productivity

English Grammar and Usage Questions

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the alternative that is grammatically correct, concise and best replaces the highlighted part.

Kim Philby was a relatively obscure British journalist after telling his wife he would meet her at a diplomatic party, when he disappeared from Beirut in January 1963.

  1. Kim Philby was a relatively obscure British journalist after telling his wife he would meet her at a diplomatic party, when he disappeared from Beirut in January 1963.

  2. Kim Philby, when he disappreared from Beirut in January 1963, after telling his wife he would meet her at a diplomatic party was a relatively obscure journalist.

  3. When he disappeared from Beirut in January 1963 after telling his wife he would meet her at a diplomatic dinner party, Kim Philby was a relatively onscure journalist.

  4. Kim Philby was a relatively obscure British journalist when he disappeared from Beirut in January 1963 after telling his wife that he would meet her at a diplomatic party.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

 The error is in the modifier phrase' when he dissappeared...'. This should be placed after 'Kim Philby was an obscure journalist...'. The original statement implied that he became an obscure journalist after telling his wife  he would meet her at a diplomatic party.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the alternative that is grammatically correct, concise and best replaces the highlighted part.

A child who reimagines the lives of her parents clearly is also bound to paint her own self - portrait using the reflections in their eyes.

  1. A child who reimagines the lives of her parents clearly is also bound to paint her own self - portrait using the reflections in their eyes.

  2. A child who reimagining the lives of her parents clearly is also bound to paint her own self - portrait using the reflections of their eyes.

  3. A child who reimagines the lives of her parents also paints her own self - portrait using the reflections in their eyes.

  4. A child who reimagines the lives of her parents has a binding to paint her own self - portrait using the reflections in their eyes.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

 The sentence is  correct.

Multiple choice

Directions: A part of the sentence or the entire sentence is underlined, followed by four ways of phrasing it. Choose the alternative which is grammatically correct and concise.

Walking the ancient Nakasendo highway from Kyoto to Tokyo is a trip into a nation's past.

  1. Walking the ancient Nakasendo highway from Kyoto to Tokyo is a trip into a nation's past.

  2. If you walk the ancient Nakasendo highway from Kyoto to Tokyo is a trip into a nation's past.

  3. Seeing the ancient Nakasendo highway from Kyoto to Tokyo is a trip into a nation's past.

  4. Walking the ancient Nakasendo highway from Kyoto to Tokyo was a trip into a nation's past.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Sentence 1 is the most correctly formed sentence. It introduces and elaborates all the elemnts one-by-one.

Multiple choice

Directions: Mark the most suitable option to fill in the blanks to make a logical sentence.

Yesterday I _________ (see) a small group of people who all were _________ (gaze) at the smoke.

  1. saw, gazing

  2. had seen, gazed

  3. have seen, gazing

  4. had seen, gazing
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

This is a compound sentence in the past tense. Here, the principal clause demands 'past indefinite', while the subsidiary clause demands 'past continuous'.